pearman



R. H. PEARMAN.

CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3l, 1919.

1,359,266. Pmtdsept. 21,1920.

6 -12 o EQ- 2 F'l E. E.

INVENTDR.

2%/ Q6/mm WW TTDRNEY narran srATss Param omer..

ROBERT H. PEARMAN, CF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNOR T0 THOMAS E.STEERE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

CAMERA.

Patented Sept. 21, 1920.

Application filed July 31, 1919. Serial No. 314,496.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. PEARMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented new and useful Tmprovements in Cameras, ofwhich thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in acamera with particular reference to the bellows type, and it has for itsprimary object to provide mea-ns to prevent the extended bellows fromsagging intermediate of its end supports.

The invention further resides in a folding support for the centralportion of the bellows to fold and unfold therewith whereby the devicemay be a permanent fixture on the camera.

Further, the invention resides in the features of construction and thearrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described andclaimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein,

Figure l is a side elevation of a camera equipped with the presentinvention in its operative position:

Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section of the supporting arm and itsmounting; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device in its folded or inoperativeposition the front board 3 being omitted.

The camera l embodies the bellows 2 and the front board or lens holder3. In the folding type of camera it has been found that the bellows sagsin the middle and more especially is this true where the bellows extendsa considerable distance.

The present invention, designed to over-l come this sagging of thebellowspbetween its end supports, comprises an eye member 4t clamped toone of the central folds of the bellows by a pair of plates or aws 5,with one of which the eye member is formed integral or otherwisesecured. An upright bracket or support 6 is secured to the front boardl, said bracket having a side portion cut away to fit and engage overthe upper edge of the front board, as indicated at 7, and in the upperend of this bracket is an upright bore slightly tilted forwardly andconstituting a bearing to receive the downturned terminal 8, of thebellows supporting arm 9. This arm is threaded, through the eye opening,which is in the form of a horizontal slot lO, and has its free endturned up into a lip 1l serving as a limitation stop to prevent undueextension of the bellows.

Tn practice, the free end of the more or less resilient arm exerts alifting force in sustaining the weight of the bellows substantiallymidway between its ends. As the bellows is contracted or closed thesupporting arm slides through the eye and may be folded laterally forproper nesting in the camera box, and as the bellows is extended 'oropened the arm unfolds by swinging rearwardly in which connection itwill be noted that the arm also swings upwardly by reason of the tiltedbearing in the bracket 6. This action tends to lift on the bellowsincreasingly during the extending movements. The support thus actseiiiciently and is of simple design, being applicable to the cameras nowin daily use without any modication thereof whatever.

Having thus described my invention, which T claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is l. An attachment for a bellows camera,comprising an eye member adapted to be secured to the central portion ofthe camera bellows, a bracket adapted to be lsecured to the front boardand formed with an upright, forwardly tilted bearing, and a supportingarm slidable through the eye member and having its forward enddownturned and engaged in the bearing of the bracket.

2. In combination with a camera having a bellows and a front board,means extending longitudinally above the bellows for supporting thecentral folds of the bellows from the top of the latter and means forsupporting said first means from the front board having a part angularlydisposed to effect upward movement of the first means upon outwardmovement of the front board.

3. Tn combination with a camera having a bellows and a front board,laterally foldable means carried by the front board for supporting thebellows intermediate its ends by suspension.

4;. In combination with a camera having a bellows and a front board,means for supporting the central portion of the bellows from the topthereof comprising a laterally foldable overhead structure, and means tomount said means on the front board.

5. In combination with a camera' having a lbellows and a Vfront board, arod overlying the bellows and connected at its inner end thereto, andmeans to mount the outer end of the rod on the front board having a partangularly disposed to eifect upward movement of the inner end of theVrod upon outward movement of the front board.

6. In combination with a camera having a bellows anda front board,foldable means overlying the bellows Connected thereto to support same,Vand means having Va part angularly disposed whereby upon distend- 7. lncombination with a camera havingl a bellows and a front board, anarm'piv-V` oted at one end to the front board and Jfoldable laterallythereof, said arm overlying lthe bellows and means to connect theopposite end of the arm to'the bellows.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thisspeeiiieation in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT H. PEARMAN Witnesses: Y

WORTHINGTON C'. FORD, WARREN G. WHEELER.

